baking uvmaps to object
I got it! the trick is that you have to create a New UVMap for the bake to draw to.
click "data", expand "UV maps", click the "+" to create a new UVMap. with the new UV map selected, you can create a new blank Image, unwrap, and bake!
 

edit: so although it worked that time, i did the same process again on another section and im getting improper bakes!, whats the deal? 

edit x2: it was a mirror modifier! even though it was turned off, after deleting the modifier it baked correctly.